Guido van Helten is an Australian artist, known for his photorealistic murals that are bigger than life.

Keim Mineral Coatings Blog

Concrete is often the

Guido van Helten is an Australian-born visual artist and photographer (1986). He is an internationally recognized artist creating contemporary street art worldwide, underpinned by his exploration of community and identity generated through photography and large-scale mural installations. Born in Canberra and growing up in inner city Melbourne, Australia, the artist was influenced at a young age by traditional graffiti movements, leading to an early introduction of aerosol at a young age. After graduating with a Bachelor of Visual Arts majoring in Printmaking at Southern Cross University, Guido began developing his contemporary work, which is now closely aligned with the movement of large-scale muralism worldwide. His work has developed from his keen interests in travel, photography, architecture and learning about cultures connected with their landscapes. Receiving attention for his work in regional communities around Australia, Guido was nominated for the Sir John Sulman Prize at the Art Gallery of NSW in 2016 for his work in the community of Brim, Victoria. These interests and his ability to work on large-scale projects have spurred commissions worldwide throughout Europe, Scandinavia, the United States, and Australia.

Concrete As Canvas

Commissioned in 2021 by The Salina Kanvas Project, the mural was painted on the HD Lee Flour Mill in Salina, KS. Guido spent months on site engaging with citizens and immersing himself in the culture of the city to develop a design that embodies the spirit of Salina. “Salina is a great community, but we never had a ‘monument’ like this that attracts visitors to our city and is available for citizens to enjoy”, remarked Eric Montoy, a member of the Salina Kanvas Project. “Our hope is that this work be a catalyst for future world-class murals and street art in the downtown area. We want Salina to be a destination versus a spot to fill up with gas along the Interstate.” “This will help bolster business opportunities and support the amazing institutions we already have here in Salina.

Guido has recently begun using Keim’s Concretal® Black Purity to create the negative space in his murals. This mural was also created using Concretal® Lasur Pigmented Mineral Stain in various colors, which provides transparent color without obliterating the silos’ unique concrete character.

Fast Facts
Completed: 2021
Surface: Aged Cast Concrete
Products Used:
Concretal® Black Purity Concretal® Lasur Pigmented Mineral Stain
Concretal® Fixative/Dilution Clear

Photos by

Windowless Façade is a Dimensional Backdrop

Canvas Tower in downtown Greenville, SC was transformed with this stunning mural depicting the importance of educators in our society. Over the summer of 2020, Guido brought to life a photo-realistic mural commissioned by developer The Beach Company as part of the building’s redevelopment, the mural’s subject was kept under wraps until it’s unveiling August 26, 2020.

During a press conference at Canvas Tower, the company and artist introduced Greenville resident and beloved former educator Pearlie Harris as the mural’s subject. The mural depicts Harris flanked by several present day students from AJ Whittenberg Elementary School to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Greenville schools’ desegregation in fall of 2020 and pay homage to the value that one teacher can bring to generations of students.

Van Helten’s vision for the mural was to illustrate unity and diversity and to honor the integration era’s history, personalities and legacies.

This façade proved problematic as the brick surface had been treated with a water repellent finish some years back. First attempts at staining and painting the bricks simply “ran-off” the waterproof surface. The solution turned out to be Soldalit® Sol Silicate All Surface Paint as a base coat. The paint’s tenacious adhesion to “difficult to paint” surfaces made the difference. The underlying image was first “primed” with Soldalit, the mural was then finished with stains and clear dilution.

Fast Facts
Completed: 2020
Surface: Brick Veneer
Products Used:
SoldalitⓇ Sol Silicate All Surface Paint
Concretal® Lasur Pigmented Mineral Stain
Concretal® Fixative/Dilution Clear
Photo: Courtesy of Guido van Helten

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Guido van Helten is an Australian artist, known for his photorealistic murals that are bigger than life.

Keim Mineral Coatings Blog

Concrete As Canvas

Windowless Façade is a Dimensional Backdrop

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